Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The prophet Jeremiah is in the midst of despair in our first reading. He is witnessing the trial and tribulations of the people. And after witnessing it, does what anyone else would do—asks why. “Why is this happening?” Jeremiah asks why but he knows the answer. It’s because the people are guilty of their sins and guilty of turning away from the Lord. This is something Jeremiah acknowledges. AND he still has a firm hope in the Lord, that there’s some plan amidst all the chaos.
We need to take a lesson from this. Jeremiah, in witnessing all this mayhem, could have easily in his anger quit on God, he didn’t! Jeremiah stuck with God. We ourselves are no strangers to chaos and trials. How many of us stick with God through those trials? How many of us turn to something else, or turn to someone other than God when these trials come? St. Joachim and St. Anne, pray for us.
Reflection by Fr. Macario Martinez, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections